Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
An actress best known for playing Pauline Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, with earlier roles in Are You Being Served? and other series.
On the island
Eight records
Land of Hope and GloryFavourite
BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
Well, I really would like Land of Hope and Glory. You see, I'm tone deaf, I can't sing at all. So if I'm on this desert island no one can hear me. I can have a really good sing song, and you know you're not going to upset anyone with your singing or lack of singing ability.
Well, I've chosen Glenn Miller in the mood because I remember as a child watching the Glen Miller story. I mean, doesn't it sort of make you sob your heart out at the end when she's sitting there at Christmas and he's not coming back? You know, they've lost him. And I think it's a brilliant piece of music. And the only time I really go out is to various charity functions, you know, and they usually have a very good show band on and they nearly always play in the mood. And it's one that really makes you want to get up and dance.
Well, this was the hymn that we had at school, which I loved, and that's Jerusalem. I think this is marvellous. I get very emotional when I hear this.
Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr. Hitler?
Jimmy Perry and Derek Taverner
Well, as I mentioned earlier on, David Croft, he's been a wonderful governor to me over the years, and I was fortunate enough to be in Dad's army several times. And so I've chosen The theme music to that show because it brings back memories, and one memory sets off another. Because if you're in Dad's army, It was It was a privilege to work with such marvellous people. Unfortunately, I think there's only three of them left now, we've lost them all.
Joan Sutherland and Jane Berbié
Number five, I love this piece of music. It's the flower duet from Lacme. I think it's lovely.
Well, I remember seeing an old black and white movie many years ago, and it was called Bolero, and it was George Raft. I remember thinking, oh, he's one of the most handsome men I'd ever seen. I think I was about 12 at the time. I thought, gosh, he's so handsome. I didn't realise what a fantastic dance. I mean, apart from playing villains and everything, he was a fantastic dancer. And this is a beautiful piece of music. And again, you see, you can sit and listen to this and you can imagine all sorts of wonderful pictures. Just let your mind travel on.
Well, as I said earlier on The archers. I mean, I was brought up with them and I s that is my one hour on a Sunday morning that is mine and I might be baking something in the kitchen or I might sit down and do my tapestry and that one hour is mine and that's I don't even pick my lines up for that hour'cause you have to learn your lines on a Sunday. And I think they're all absolutely marvellous. I'm a member I'm a life member of the Fan Club. When you hear this music, it reminds you of Sunday lunch when you were little, you know, Sunday mornings, because at Sunday lunchtime we then had Life with the Lions and Ted Ray and all that, but in the morning was The Archers. And so it brings back memories of all that. But I will have to arrange for someone to send me a tape every week in a bottle of the omnibus edition of The Archers.
Well This is another good sing song, and I thought I could knock a chair together for myself, and I would sit there on the beach looking out at the sea, and I'd have this blaring out, and that's Raw Britannia.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:59Was it a big decision to take on the role of Pauline Fowler in EastEnders?
Yes, that's true. But um I'd known Julia Smith since the sixties and Julia and Tony Holland were the ones that dreamed us up … And Julia invited me to play the part of Pauline, and it was outlined to me that storyline, having the late baby and other things that were going to happen. And I thought, yes, this sounds good.
Presenter asks
6:27Do you get many letters from viewers identifying with Pauline?
Oh, yes, very much so. Also, when uh Michele told Pauline that she was expecting a baby … I had a letter from a young girl who said, Thank you for that scene because I'm at school and I'm pregnant and it gave me the courage to tell my mother and fortunately, like you and Arthur, my mum and dad are standing by me.
Presenter asks
9:10How far does Pauline Fowler mirror your personal life?
Well you think I'd be a lot happier when I had to sit there if I could play cards. Um but you see you get people write to you and say how different is or even journalists say how different is your life to Pauline's. Well I mean do us a favour. I'm a working actress. I live in the West End. Pauline's and I have no children. Pauline's the mother of three children and she lives in the East End and I mean you it's polls apart. You know, I think it's a silly question.
The keepsakes
The book
Tom Sharpe
There's not many authors I've read more than once, but there's one and I laugh out loud every time I read his stuff, and that's Tom Sharp. ... I think wilt, because God, you must have some sort of imagination to write a story like that.
The luxury
Presenter asks
16:03What effect did your father's suicide have on your life?
Well, it had the effect that um I think it affected my mother more. I mean I was went away, as I said, to the Masonic school. Um but then my mother, who was always worked very hard, She couldn't continue the business on her own because at the time we had a public house with two bars and a restaurant and an off-licence, and it was too much for her.
Presenter asks
29:01How intrusive does the press get?
It can get very intrusive because, I mean, if you've ever been doorstepped by the press, I tell you it is most unpleasant. And I was trying to walk my dog once, and there's about four reporters and three photographers, and of course, she wouldn't spend a penny with this great audience. And I said, Well, just at least let me walk the dog. You know, I've nothing to say to you, really wasting your time.
“I thought it would give me the opportunity to show that I could act and show emotions other than those from A to B. You know, I could go a bit further perhaps.”
“I had the pleasure of taking my mother to Leicester Square and seeing a big colour picture of me outside the cinema, you know, all lit up and everything. And so I think she realized then she had a return for her investment.”
“She's my best friend. Oh, she's a lovely little cairn terrier, and I got her when we were doing Grace and Favour up in Gloucestershire.”